THE OFF-SWITCH

Yes its true, the more we see, the more we want, and once we get it, we are satisfied for a short time, before wanting the next thing...around and around we go on that big "I want" fairground ride

Throughout our incredibly brief time on this beautiful little planet, we humans have never really been satisfied. On the positive side, without this insatiable appetite, we could still be living in caves or huts, killing each other for food and dying by the ripe old age of 35

We have taken giant leaps forward, for almost 4,000 years we travelled by horse and still did until just 100 years ago.  Since we have invented cars, jets, rockets, space stations. We split the atom, are accelerating and colliding particles, sending probes around the universe and exploring consciousness. When you consider how fast the world has changed in the past 100 years compared to the previous 2000 years, it's like we've gone from crawling on all fours to running faster than Usain Bolt all in a day!

The downside of our blistering pace is that we are exposed to a never-ending bombardment of theories and information, at the same time the media, corporations, and government are drowning us in messages - our brains are saturated...

We are asked to make thousands upon thousands of choices every single day.
From what to view with our eyes to where to place our feet when walking. What time to wake up? Which clothes to wear? Which route to take? Where to sit on the bus, train or subway? What to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner? Where to buy the food? What to do for fun? What to do to relax? What to do about this? That? Her? Him? Them?

Now add work-related decisions plus all those naughty media people using every manipulative trick to attract, divert and influence us, while we are trying to go about our daily doings

The one choice being hidden from us; is the option to turn off all this continual bombing of our minds

One of the most straightforward options is to unplug your television and spend less time on social media. Now those words may be horrific, but before you send this idea to the "no frigging way" section of your mind - consider the plus points...

No scaremongering news. No soap's about uninspiring characters. No worrying about who is going to be voted off the show. No listening to poli-tricks. No talk shows about someone's upcoming movie, tv series or tour. No ultra white teeth. No fake presenters. No advertising and...No flicking from channel to channel to channel to channel to channel. You don't need to switch the TV off forever - just more often!

Social media is a must for many, but it's time-consuming. and a pretty low-level connection tool - it may once have been exciting but try talking with people, you may discover there's more to you then you knew

 Slow down the information and cut down on those man-made images which are invading your thoughts. Fewer images will allow your mind to float a little more, to imagine more. Activating your imagination bring feelings of freedom, its food for the brain, it also provides employment for those funky little creative cells which are probably very restless and consistently chatting with you.

 WARNING!!
When you try this. At first, your mind will attempt to hijack you, offering you many other options to think about, it will try to convince you - that you don't have the time to spare and this is not going to work. Yes, that monkey inside your head wants to continually talk to you. It does not want to rest or for you to ever stop listening. It feeds on information, the theories, gossip, news, advertising, and marketing...it loves input so that it has more to talk to you about!

You can switch off the bombing at any time - the first thing you must do is acknowledge there is an extremely talkative chimp jumping around inside your head. Then you can begin to tame it and ultimately spend time away from it. Once you do this - you will notice yourself becoming calmer, more focused and less concerned about needing things to occupy yourself

Wanting more is human nature. However, if you are frustrated and continually thinking about the lack of things in your life, then my friend you may have lost your way, there is indeed far more to life. This world is a surprising and diverse place, when you actively make the time to connect, experience and smile at it - it will smile back and provide whatever you need to enhance the relationship

If you are not enjoying your experience on this exceptionally interesting spinning globe, perhaps its time to take a step or two backward. Maybe you need something more rewarding, something a little more real in your life
 
Everything you feel is based on the choices you alone make...
Accept it's not your childhood, past relationships, job, the economy, where you live, drugs, the weather or your age which is to blame. Your tv and other influences can advise, demand and attempt to emotionally blackmail you

In the end, nobody else is responsible. It's you. Your choices define who you are and where life takes you.
There is an off-switch, and the real world is always waiting to welcome you

3000monks...are swinging in the trees


Summer 2014
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